Sledge-Cobb-Spalding House, c1861 – Athens

Athens, Georgia – Clarke County – Built circa 1861, the Sledge-Cobb-Spalding House has been purchased by descendants of prior owners – not once, but twice! Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house has a storied history in Athens.

James Asbury Sledge purchased 4 acres from Ferdinand Phinizy in 1860, and shortly after had this house built. The first floor is brick – in fact the walls are 18 inches thick, with stucco over the outside. Sledge was a newspaper editor in Athens.

The Gothic Revival style isn’t common in Athens, and this house has some amazing interior detail. As soon as I saw the interior arch below, I was fascinated by it! Unusual feature. Turns out it’s called an Ogee Arch – which dates back to the 13th century. That’s solid walnut on the arch and doors.

Ogee Arch in foyer. Beautiful! (from NRHP Listing, 1973)

In 1869, the house was sold to Lamar and Ann Cobb. Lamar was the son of Howell and Mary Ann Cobb, we looked at there house here not long ago. Lamar’s wife Ann became the firs President of the Ladies Garden Club in 1892 (the first Garden Club in America was founded in Athens!).

Their daughter – Mary Newton Cobb, married Edward Sledge – who just happened to be the son of James Asbury Sledge. They later purchased the house.

The house is large – about 4,500 square feet. Additions were made to the back of the house in the 1890s which added an attached kitchen, laundry, and bathroom.

Over the years there were multiple owners of the property – it was even a fraternity house for a while!

The house was eventually purchased by Dr & Mrs Phinizy Spalding. He was the great-grandson of Ferdinand Phinizy – who owned the property in 1860. Amazing house this house went full circle in ownership.

Phinizy Spalding was a pioneer in the historic preservation movement in Athens during the late 1960s and beyond. A UGA Professor, he led many preservation efforts and established the Historic Cobbham Foundation. The area this house is in became Athens first Historic District in 1978.

Quick video view from the other morning:

Thanks so much for reading the blog and learning a little about this fascinating house!